When it comes to DIY in clothing, John-Paul Flintoff is your man. His widely acclaimed book Sew your own is the prime evidence of this. Documenting not only his attempts at making his own clothes, but also the urgency of environmental activism and the demise of tailor made costumes, Sew your own demonstrates that DIY is key to making the world a better place.
Flintoff is not a professional tailor. He uses an old fashioned hand powered sewing machine. And his home made jeans, hats from home spun nettle and personally fitted shirts are a recurrent embarrassment to his fashion conscious wife. It’s primarily in his attitude to outsourcing that he sets an example to us all. People used to be able to make their clothes themselves, so why would we rely on the current global fashion industry with its sweatshops, ecological footprint and reliance on oil and similar non renewable resources?
Another reason why Flintoff, who writes for British newspapers and contributes to Alain de Botton’s School of Life, can be considered a green inspiration concerns his love of quality. Flintoff’s adventures behind the sewing machine contributed to his decision to never buy cheap products. Because it was while making his own clothes that he experienced how much time, energy and craftsmanship lies behind every item in our wardrobe. He also realised that the pressure from consumers always looking for bargains leads directly to the exploitation of producers and can ultimately lead to the destruction of entire industries. Hence his determination to buy less and choose well, saving up for special items like a suit or coat.
Surely, Flintoffs message is good news for anyone committed to a green wardrobe. Make your own clothes, preferably using locally made fabrics, is a basic principle. And if you really can’t do it yourself, buy less but choose high quality items, if possible handmade.